New 2026 NFL mock draft has Patriots adding 6-foot-7 lineman

The 2025 Patriots are staying targeted on the duty at hand amid an 11-2 begin to the season.

However, New England’s prime brass may also want to stay vigilant this upcoming spring if the franchise desires to maintain the success they’ve achieved this season.

One one of the best methods to try this is continuous so as to add affect gamers by way of the NFL Draft.

And even when the times of choosing top-five prospects could be a factor of the previous, New England ought to nonetheless be capable of bolster one space of its roster with its 2026 first-round decide.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler launched his first 2026 NFL mock draft on Wednesday, with the draft guru projecting that the Patriots will take offensive sort out Monroe Freeling out of Georgia with the thirty second decide.

“The Patriots’ new staff motto: Defend Drake Maye in any respect prices. Morgan Moses has performed effectively at proper sort out this season, however he turns 35 in March,” Brugler wrote. “Freeling could be an excellent understudy who may present short-term depth and a long-term reply on the skin.”

Freeling — a 6-foot-7 sort out — has began 11 of 12 video games for the Bulldogs this season, and has performed alongside present Patriots’ offensive lineman Jared Wilson throughout his three years with Georgia. 

Freeling could be a clever long-term funding for New England because the staff appears to be like to guard its most beneficial asset in Maye for the lengthy haul.

New England has its presumed franchise left sort out in place after taking LSU’s Will Campbell with the fourth decide within the 2025 NFL Draft.

However, New England may use some long-term choices at proper sort out. Although free-agent pickup Morgan Moses has held his personal at that spot this season, he’s additionally 34 years outdated and has been affected by accidents previously.

Even when allocating a first-round decide on a extra dynamic goal like a large receiver or tight finish would draw extra headlines, shoring up the O-line could be a proactive transfer for New England transferring ahead.

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.